Review: Green Lantern #16 (Legacy #583)
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Jeremy Adams
Art: Xermanico
Colors: Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd
Summary
Hal, John, Guy and Carol take the fight to Lord Thaaros and the Durlans running the United Planets. Thanagar is attacked by Mogo and only the Rannian force can expose the United Planets to the rest of the Universe.
Positives
The story that Jeremy Adams began way back in Green Lantern #1 appears to be in the third act. He’s been unceremoniously interrupted a few times, but he shows he hasn’t lost the thrust of what he’s been trying to do. Along the way, Adams has utilized a number of callbacks to continuity to help set the tone and remind readers of the world and history of Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps. Green Lantern #16 is like that as well as Adams includes Thanagarians and Rannians to remind readers of their significant roles in the space faring roles in the DC Universe. (I was really hoping for an appearance of Shayera (Hawkwoman) Thal/ Hol? and Adam and Alanna Strange)!
There’s some exciting action in this issue as John and Hal do most of the heavy lifting. Guy plays a role as well, and we finally learn what Thaaros has been doing with Teen Lantern. And, boy is it an interesting concept that builds on the Emotional Spectrum. Adams continues to demonstrate he can write great super-hero comics. He understands how to use continuity, focus on character and present creative ideas. He certainly should be on at least one more DC ongoing. Despite the “All In” initiative, DC NEEDS more writers on books like Jeremy Adams!
Positives Cont’d
Adams also provides a little nuance as the inexperienced Carol Ferris must do her part. She gets a pep talk from Hal, and Adams gives her the appropriate level of reality check. No, she isn’t ready for this, and both Hal and Carol know it. However, Hal helps her find confidence in what she does know and how it’s applicable for her to figure out how to execute her role. It’s a nice moment, and the situation escalates on the final page of the issue setting Carol up for a real test, a huge test as a matter of fact.
Xermanico is back on the book with Green Lantern #16, and despite the great job by Fernando Pasarin on the past few issues, it’s nice to see Xermanico’s work here again. Xermanico handles the large and small moments well and does a good job of clear storytelling and ramping up the excitement.
Can’t forget to mention that this issue begins Legacy numbering on the cover- #583! It’s likely this is a set up for a big 6ooth issue blowout. I’d like to know what series they’ve counted over the years to get to that number!
Negatives
Last week Green Lantern Civil Corps Special #1 came out and it’s a direct lead in to Green Lantern #16. Unfortunately, it is important to read that in order to understand what’s going on in this issue. Quite a bit happens. Furthermore, if one has not been following Green Lantern: War Journal, there will be more questions (thanks, Google!). That said, it would’ve been better to have the contents of the Green Lantern Civil Corps Special #1 be Green Lantern #16 and #17 instead of publishing a special. This would’ve allowed for a little more exposition for those not following War Journal, and kept things all together. There’s no real reason for the special, it’s THE story between Green Lantern #15 and Green Lantern #16.
DC Comics has had a problem for a while. They have some comics that are great- Green Lantern and The Flash under Adams, Justice Society of America, and a mostly improved Superman line as seen in “The House of Brainiac” storyline. However, they also have some really bad comics: Power Girl, Tom King’s Wonder Woman are the first two that come to mind. Furthermore, Absolute Power was one of the most boring events DC has ever done. Adams has had to navigate the event interruptions and reference some of these bad comics in his ongoing story. It would be better to ignore things like the events of Absolute Power (despite it making sense for connecting this to the larger DCU), and Alan Scott: The Green Lantern (in the Special again), because referencing these bad comics detracts from all the great stuff Adams is doing.
It’s tough, I get it, it’s necessary to reference these events and series to make this feel like it’s taking place in the connected DC Universe. Just like it didn’t help Absolute Power to play off of the events in King’s Wonder Woman, it doesn’t help Green Lantern to play off things in Absolute Power and Alan Scott: The Green Lantern. It’s best to just ignore stories/ series that are bad. Get rid of it immediately, rather than hang on to it. Adams already saved Wally West from Tom King’s destruction in Heroes in Crisis, it’s best to just turn that ship around as soon as possible rather than let it drag on. Cancel King’s Wonder Woman, don’t reference Absolute Power, ignore Alan Scott: The Green Lantern and get someone to fix Power Girl before the character is unfixable.
Verdict
Despite the “Negatives” section, Green Lantern #16 is a very good issue. It’s the hangover from the Green Lantern Civil Corps Special that lingers that informs the “Negatives.” Even that isn’t so much about the story in the Special, but the other things it builds on. Green Lantern #16 has great art from Xermanico and Adams works his magic with character and interesting creative story ideas involving DC Universe connections. It’s the interruptions and unhelpful connections that are the “Negatives” for this series.
